Flood warning in effect for Orleans, WNY

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 January 2018 at 7:40 am

Photo courtesy of Chris Busch: The Orleans County YMCA, the former Armory in Medina, is pictured on Friday when the temperatures were about 0 degrees for much of the day. The temperature is forecast to reach 57 on Thursday.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a flood watch from 10 a.m. Thursday through 4 a.m. Saturday due to snow melt and about a half inch of rain.

People living in areas that are prone to ice jam flooding should take the time in advance to prepare for the potential for flooding this Thursday and Friday, the Weather Service said.

“Area creeks and rivers have thick ice in place,” the Weather Service said. “Rapid rises in water level can break up this ice, which can then become jammed where there are constrictions in the river or creek channel, such as curves or other restrictions.”

Temperatures are on the rise with a high forecast today at 43 with a low of 41, followed by a high of 57 and low of 50 on Thursday. Friday is forecast for a high of 52 and a low of 16.

The weekend will be cold with a high of 17 on Saturday and a high of 15 on Sunday, according to the Weather Service.

Here is how Main Street in Medina looked during the deep freeze last Friday. The historical marker notes that famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass spoke in Medina in 1849 and 1869.